This past weekend was "Ham Radio Field Day". During this annual nationwide event, ham radio operators set up complete emergency communications stations where nothing existed before. In Central Oregon, the “High Desert Amateur Radio Group" and the "Deschutes County Amateur Radio Emergency Service" set up near the Pine Mountain Observatory. Max Vaughn is a board member for the radio group.
He says the event demands that they set up a station in a remote location on a moments notice and practice those skills. For information about becoming a ham radio operator, go to www.hidarg.org